Fwd: License Update Required for "Micropolis"

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Hi,

did anyone else receive this E-Mail below on the micropolis package? If
so, is anyone already working on this?

-------- Weitergeleitete Nachricht --------
Von: Timo Ritter <[email protected]>
An: Bruno Fuddl Kleinert <[email protected]>
Betreff: License Update Required for "Micropolis"
Datum: 14.02.2026 00:01:27

> Dear Mr. Kleinert,
>=20
> I hope you are doing well.
>=20
> I'm writing you regarding the "micropolis" Debian package. I tried=20
> contacting Ms. Miriam Ruiz yesterday, but my mail to=20
> [email protected] bounced. So I am now contacting you.
>=20
> You probably missed a prior trademark agreement between the company=20
> Micropolis and the upstream authors. The update requires the project to=
=20
> add an additional "license note" to the game's repository and any=20
> associated websites. But no worries - here is a todo:
>=20
>=20
> Action Requested
> ----------------
> My company politely asks to please update the Debian.org package README,=
=20
> the manpage and related websites:
>=20
> https://manpages.debian.org/unstable/micropolis/micropolis.6.en.html
> https://salsa.debian.org/games-team/micropolis-activity
> (and additional outlets you know better than me, if any)
>=20
> to include the following license note (and the full license text linked=
=20
> below) as soon as possible:
>=20
> "The name/term "MICROPOLIS" is a registered trademark of Micropolis GmbH=
=20
> (Micropolis Corporation, the "licensor") and is licensed here to the=20
> authors/publishers of the "Micropolis" city simulation game and its=20
> source code (the project or "licensee(s)") as a courtesy of the owner."
>=20
> And activate this attribution with a link to https://www.micropolis.com=
=20
> and optionally to the license text, in case it resides in the repo.
>=20
> For your reference, Don Hopkins=E2=80=99 incorporation of this notice can=
 be=20
> viewed here:
> https://github.com/SimHacker/MicropolisCore
>=20
>=20
> Background
> -----------
> - The game's working title "Micropolis" is a trademark. Maxis switched=
=20
> to "SimCity" for that reason back in the days.
> - This trademark situation was inadvertently overlooked when the game=20
> was open-sourced.
> - Micropolis GmbH's agreement with the upstream authors now requires a=
=20
> clear license notice on all public distributions.
> - You can read the full license text here:
> https://github.com/SimHacker/MicropolisCore/blob/main/MicropolisPublicNam=
eLicense.md
>=20
>=20
>=20
> We appreciate your prompt attention to ensuring compliance. If you have=
=20
> any questions or need further clarification, please let me know.
>=20
>=20
> Best regards,
> Timo Ritter
> on behalf of Micropolis GmbH
>=20
>=20
> --=20
> MICROPOLIS
>=20
> Micropolis GmbH
> Bismarckstr. 120
> 47057 Duisburg
> Germany
> Tel: +49 203 94100 989
> Fax: +49 203 94100 991
> email: [email protected]
> Internet: https://www.micropolis.com/
>=20
> Micropolis=C2=AE is a registered trademark in many regions of the World.
>=20
> ----------
> Important: This email is confidential and may be privileged. If you are
> not the intended recipient, please delete it and notify us immediately;
> you should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents
> to any other person. Thank you.
>=20
> Micropolis GmbH, Sitz der Gesellschaft ist Duisburg, Handelsregister
> Amtsgericht Duisburg Nr. HRB38043, Gesch=C3=A4ftsf=C3=BChrung Daniel Ange=
r
> Micropolis Corporation, incorporated as GmbH in Duisburg, Germany,
> executive director Daniel Anger


The upstream author received a license by Micropolis GmbH to use and
keep the name 'Micropolis' for the game. I got that from a related
project of the author
here=C2=A0https://github.com/SimHacker/MicropolisCore?tab=3Dreadme-ov-file=
=C2=A0:

[=E2=80=A6]
At the time, "Micropolis" was also the name of a hard disk drive
manufacturer. They eventually changed names and went out of business,
but the company was recently restructured as Micropolis GmbH [1]. The
owner is an old school hacker who was generous enough to grant the
Micropolis Public Name License [2], which allows the game to use the
name Micropolis under reasonable conditions. Many thanks to Micropolis
GmbH for this courtesy -- check out their BBS primer [3], robotics
primer [4], and data storage primer [5].
[=E2=80=A6]

The granted license is
here=C2=A0https://github.com/SimHacker/MicropolisCore/blob/main/MicropolisP=
ublicNameLicense.md
=C2=A0and it's non-DFSG because of section 2:

2. Acknowledge that the name "MICROPOLIS" is a commercial registered
trademark. While the use of the bare source code is governed by GPL,
the name of the open source project is a trademark owned by a single
company within the community and the owner grants a revocable license
for the name "MICROPOLIS" to you, the user, for non-commercial use in
relation with the source code and game.

My preferred solution:
Ask upstream to rename the game, e.g. MinCity (Micropolis Is Not
simCity ;) )

Alternatives:
1. Move it to non-free and obey Micropolis GmbH's trademark license
2. Remove the game from Debian. But popcon says almost 270
installations, though!

Opinions?

Cheers,
Fuddl

[1] Micropolis GmbH https://www.micropolis.com/
[2] Micropolis Public Name License
    https://github.com/SimHacker/MicropolisCore/blob/main/MicropolisPublicN=
ameLicense.md
[3] BBS primer https://www.micropolis.com/micropolis-bbs-primer
[4] robotics primer
    https://www.micropolis.com/micropolis-robotics-primer
[5] data storage primer
    https://www.micropolis.com/micropolis-data-storage-primer

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<html><head><style>pre,code,address {
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</style></head><body><div>Hi,</div><div><br></div><div>did anyone else rece=
ive this E-Mail below on the micropolis package? If so, is anyone already w=
orking on this?</div><div><br></div><div style=3D"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0)=
; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Adwaita Sans&quot;; font-style: n=
ormal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal;=
 text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: no=
rmal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4); -=
webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;">-------- Weitergelei=
tete Nachricht --------</div><div style=3D"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color=
: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Adwaita Sans&quot;; font-style: normal; =
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-a=
lign: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; w=
ord-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4); -webkit-=
text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><b>Von</b>: Timo Ritter &lt=
;<a href=3D"mailto:Timo%20Ritter%20%[email protected]%3e" style=3D"c=
olor: rgb(46, 52, 54);">[email protected]</a>&gt;</div><div style=3D"c=
aret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Adwaita S=
ans&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400;=
 letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transfor=
m: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-colo=
r: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: non=
e;"><b>An</b>: Bruno Fuddl Kleinert &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:Bruno%20Fuddl%20K=
leinert%20%[email protected]%3e" style=3D"color: rgb(46, 52, 54);">fuddl@d=
ebian.org</a>&gt;</div><div style=3D"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(=
0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Adwaita Sans&quot;; font-style: normal; font-v=
ariant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: =
start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-sp=
acing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4); -webkit-text-s=
troke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><b>Betreff</b>: License Update Re=
quired for "Micropolis"</div><div style=3D"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color=
: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Adwaita Sans&quot;; font-style: normal; =
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-a=
lign: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; w=
ord-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4); -webkit-=
text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><b>Datum</b>: 14.02.2026 00=
:01:27</div><div style=3D"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); f=
ont-family: &quot;Adwaita Sans&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps=
: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text=
-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;=
 -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4); -webkit-text-stroke-width=
: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><br></div><blockquote type=3D"cite" style=3D=
"margin:0 0 0 .8ex; border-left:2px #729fcf solid;padding-left:1ex"><pre>De=
ar Mr. Kleinert,</pre><pre><br></pre><pre>I hope you are doing well.</pre><=
pre><br></pre><pre>I'm writing you regarding the "micropolis" Debian packag=
e. I tried </pre><pre>contacting Ms. Miriam Ruiz yesterday, but my mail to =
</pre><pre><a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"color: rgb(46, =
52, 54);">[email protected]</a> bounced. So I am now contacting you.</pr=
e><pre><br></pre><pre>You probably missed a prior trademark agreement betwe=
en the company </pre><pre>Micropolis and the upstream authors. The update r=
equires the project to </pre><pre>add an additional "license note" to the g=
ame's repository and any </pre><pre>associated websites. But no worries - h=
ere is a todo:</pre><pre><br></pre><pre><br></pre><pre>Action Requested</pr=
e><pre>----------------</pre><pre>My company politely asks to please update=
 the Debian.org package README, </pre><pre>the manpage and related websites=
:</pre><pre><br></pre><pre><a href=3D"https://manpages.debian.org/unstable/=
micropolis/micropolis.6.en.html" style=3D"color: rgb(46, 52, 54);">https://=
manpages.debian.org/unstable/micropolis/micropolis.6.en.html</a></pre><pre>=
<a href=3D"https://salsa.debian.org/games-team/micropolis-activity" style=
=3D"color: rgb(46, 52, 54);">https://salsa.debian.org/games-team/micropolis=
-activity</a></pre><pre>(and additional outlets you know better than me, if=
 any)</pre><pre><br></pre><pre>to include the following license note (and t=
he full license text linked </pre><pre>below) as soon as possible:</pre><pr=
e><br></pre><pre>"The name/term "MICROPOLIS" is a registered trademark of M=
icropolis GmbH </pre><pre>(Micropolis Corporation, the "licensor") and is l=
icensed here to the </pre><pre>authors/publishers of the "Micropolis" city =
simulation game and its </pre><pre>source code (the project or "licensee(s)=
") as a courtesy of the owner."</pre><pre><br></pre><pre>And activate this =
attribution with a link to <a href=3D"https://www.micropolis.com/" style=3D=
"color: rgb(46, 52, 54);">https://www.micropolis.com</a> </pre><pre>and opt=
ionally to the license text, in case it resides in the repo.</pre><pre><br>=
</pre><pre>For your reference, Don Hopkins=E2=80=99 incorporation of this n=
otice can be </pre><pre>viewed here:</pre><pre><a href=3D"https://github.co=
m/SimHacker/MicropolisCore" style=3D"color: rgb(46, 52, 54);">https://githu=
b.com/SimHacker/MicropolisCore</a></pre><pre><br></pre><pre><br></pre><pre>=
Background</pre><pre>-----------</pre><pre>- The game's working title "Micr=
opolis" is a trademark. Maxis switched </pre><pre>to "SimCity" for that rea=
son back in the days.</pre><pre>- This trademark situation was inadvertentl=
y overlooked when the game </pre><pre>was open-sourced.</pre><pre>- Micropo=
lis GmbH's agreement with the upstream authors now requires a </pre><pre>cl=
ear license notice on all public distributions.</pre><pre>- You can read th=
e full license text here:</pre><pre><a href=3D"https://github.com/SimHacker=
/MicropolisCore/blob/main/MicropolisPublicNameLicense.md" style=3D"color: r=
gb(46, 52, 54);">https://github.com/SimHacker/MicropolisCore/blob/main/Micr=
opolisPublicNameLicense.md</a></pre><pre><br></pre><pre><br></pre><pre><br>=
</pre><pre>We appreciate your prompt attention to ensuring compliance. If y=
ou have </pre><pre>any questions or need further clarification, please let =
me know.</pre><pre><br></pre><pre><br></pre><pre>Best regards,</pre><pre>Ti=
mo Ritter</pre><pre>on behalf of Micropolis GmbH</pre><pre><br></pre><pre><=
br></pre><pre>-- </pre><pre>MICROPOLIS</pre><pre><br></pre><pre>Micropolis =
GmbH</pre><pre>Bismarckstr. 120</pre><pre>47057 Duisburg</pre><pre>Germany<=
/pre><pre>Tel: +49 203 94100 989</pre><pre>Fax: +49 203 94100 991</pre><pre=
>email: <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"color: rgb(46, 5=
2, 54);">[email protected]</a></pre><pre>Internet: <a href=3D"https://=
www.micropolis.com/" style=3D"color: rgb(46, 52, 54);">https://www.micropol=
is.com/</a></pre><pre><br></pre><pre>Micropolis=C2=AE is a registered trade=
mark in many regions of the World.</pre><pre><br></pre><pre>----------</pre=
><pre>Important: This email is confidential and may be privileged. If you a=
re</pre><pre>not the intended recipient, please delete it and notify us imm=
ediately;</pre><pre>you should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disc=
lose its contents</pre><pre>to any other person. Thank you.</pre><pre><br><=
/pre><pre>Micropolis GmbH, Sitz der Gesellschaft ist Duisburg, Handelsregis=
ter</pre><pre>Amtsgericht Duisburg Nr. HRB38043, Gesch=C3=A4ftsf=C3=BChrung=
 Daniel Anger</pre><pre>Micropolis Corporation, incorporated as GmbH in Dui=
sburg, Germany,</pre><pre>executive director Daniel Anger</pre></blockquote=
><br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><div><br></div><div>The upstream a=
uthor received a license by Micropolis GmbH to use and keep the name 'Micro=
polis' for the game. I got that from a related project of the author here&n=
bsp;<a href=3D"https://github.com/SimHacker/MicropolisCore?tab=3Dreadme-ov-=
file">https://github.com/SimHacker/MicropolisCore?tab=3Dreadme-ov-file</a>&=
nbsp;:</div><div><br></div><div>[=E2=80=A6]</div><div><div>At the time, "Mi=
cropolis" was also the name of a hard disk drive=20
manufacturer. They eventually changed names and went out of business,=20
but the company was recently restructured as <a href=3D"https://www.micropo=
lis.com" rel=3D"nofollow">Micropolis GmbH</a>. The owner is an old school h=
acker who was generous enough to grant the <a href=3D"https://github.com/Si=
mHacker/MicropolisCore/blob/main/MicropolisPublicNameLicense.md">Micropolis=
 Public Name License</a>,
 which allows the game to use the name Micropolis under reasonable=20
conditions. Many thanks to Micropolis GmbH for this courtesy -- check=20
out their <a href=3D"https://www.micropolis.com/micropolis-bbs-primer" rel=
=3D"nofollow">BBS primer</a>, <a href=3D"https://www.micropolis.com/micropo=
lis-robotics-primer" rel=3D"nofollow" class=3D"">robotics primer</a>, and <=
a href=3D"https://www.micropolis.com/micropolis-data-storage-primer" rel=3D=
"nofollow">data storage primer</a>.<br>[=E2=80=A6]</div></div><div><br></di=
v><div>The granted license is here&nbsp;<a href=3D"https://github.com/SimHa=
cker/MicropolisCore/blob/main/MicropolisPublicNameLicense.md">https://githu=
b.com/SimHacker/MicropolisCore/blob/main/MicropolisPublicNameLicense.md</a>=
&nbsp;and it's non-DFSG because of section 2:</div><div><br></div><div>2. A=
cknowledge that the name "MICROPOLIS" is a commercial registered trademark.=
 While the use of the bare source code is governed by GPL, the name of the =
open source project is a trademark owned by a single company within the com=
munity and the owner grants a revocable license for the name "MICROPOLIS" t=
o you, the user, for non-commercial use in relation with the source code an=
d game.</div><div><br></div><div>My preferred solution:</div><div>Ask upstr=
eam to rename the game, e.g. MinCity (Micropolis Is Not simCity ;) )</div><=
div><br></div><div>Alternatives:</div><div>1. Move it to non-free and obey =
Micropolis GmbH's trademark license</div><div>2. Remove the game from Debia=
n. But popcon says almost 270 installations, though!</div><div><br></div><d=
iv>Opinions?</div><div><br></div><div>Cheers,</div><div>Fuddl</div></body><=
/html>

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